There have been some startling revelations regarding the sensational proposed merger between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and the LIV Golf Tour, at today's hearing in front of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
The subcommittee is investigating the proposed alliance between the rival tours, with PGA Tour officials testifying at the hearing.
When the deal between the leaders of the tours was being negotiated, there were several proposals discussed, which have now come to light:
- Greg Norman would be terminated as CEO of LIV Golf.
- Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy would own LIV teams.
- The governor of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, would receive membership to Augusta National Golf Club.
It was also revealed that Rory McIlroy - who is a member of the PGA Tour's member policy board and has a vote on whether the merger will go ahead - met with Yasir Al-Rumayyan in Dubai last November.
The confirmation that Norman would likely be out of a job if the merger goes ahead is amusing given his reaction in June when news of the planned deal was announced.
Greg Norman Is Not A Popular Figure Within The PGA Tour
A great day in global golf for players and fans alike. The journey continues!!
— Greg Norman (@SharkGregNorman) June 6, 2023
Here's the side letter that puts the knife into poor little Greg .. pic.twitter.com/deZWh0o4xT
— lawrencedonegan (@lawrencedonegan) July 11, 2023
READ HERE: Greg Norman Confirms Possibility Of LIV Golf Coming To Co. Clare
One element of the LIV Golf controversy that has remained since its inception, is the presence of the 9/11 Families United, who have continuously campaigned against LIV, and were also present at the hearing.
"Today we are watching a truly bizarre spectacle, as the PGA Tour is effectively turning over the game of golf to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," said Terry Strada, the national chair of 9/11 Families United, in a statement at Tuesday's hearing.
"We know why the PGA Tour is doing it -- it's for the money. But that isn't why the Saudis are doing it. They're doing it as a public relations strategy to distract from their authoritarian past and present, and especially their unacknowledged culpability for supporting al Qaeda and the hijackers of September 11."
"We are here to watch representatives from the PGA Tour, who have signed on to help the Kingdom try once again to fix its reputation, this time through sportswashing. Those same PGAT representatives expect those of us who experienced our losses to 'move on' without so much as an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
"They will stick to their Saudi talking points just like the LIV golfers did, claiming simply that golf is 'a force for good.'"
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